The National Park Service has begun a review process, initiated by freshman Senator Manchin of WV, to consider a new National Park centered around the high Alleghenies. In the past, it was suggested that Blackwater Falls State Park serve as the center-point of such a park. I hope the proposal is seriously considered and that a new National Park can be formed here in the East. That part of West Virginia certainly has the geological and biological assets for such a park.

I'm sure the coal, gas, gun, and timber industries will fight it tooth and nail, but a National Park in that area is overdue.

Very few national parks have come into being without controversy. Read the histories on how Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains NPs came into existence. There are still people miffed about this, even now.

Sometimes the place will be a Natinal Monument for so long that its transition into a National Park is somewhat smooth, e.g. Joshua Tree, Death Valley.

The usual problem is that National Parks try to (a) be contiguous with as few private land enclaves as possible, and (b) try to purchase or secure surrounding lands, usually to preserve watersheds or other aspects that would preserve the proposed park in the long term. These things can take years to happen, not to mention all the studies that need to be done.

In the very long term, it would help the local economy. But people often think only as far as next week, so it's tough to get everyone excited about these things. I hope it goes somewhere. My time in WV has been limited, but I love the rugged mountain scenery and wild rivers when I have been there.

surgent wrote:Very few national parks have come into being without controversy. Read the histories on how Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains NPs came into existence. There are still people miffed about this, even now.

Sometimes the place will be a Natinal Monument for so long that its transition into a National Park is somewhat smooth, e.g. Joshua Tree, Death Valley.

The usual problem is that National Parks try to (a) be contiguous with as few private land enclaves as possible, and (b) try to purchase or secure surrounding lands, usually to preserve watersheds or other aspects that would preserve the proposed park in the long term. These things can take years to happen, not to mention all the studies that need to be done.

In the very long term, it would help the local economy. But people often think only as far as next week, so it's tough to get everyone excited about these things. I hope it goes somewhere. My time in WV has been limited, but I love the rugged mountain scenery and wild rivers when I have been there.

This would be a case of having to deal some way with private property. Either buy out current owners or figure a way to come to an agreement with inholdings. This are of WV is prime and overdue for National Park status. It's quite beautiful.

Would be nice if the "private landowners" could DONATE some real estate. Obviously, it's hard for that to happen, unless you somehow CONVERT them todeveloping an attitude against GREED and more toward GIVING to humanity in the LONG RUN.

Fond memories of a couple of backpacking trips through the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. Also an introductory spelunking trip a bit further to the south during college - something like the Sackett cave system. It is unique for the east coast. Though tough economic times to get something like this through congress. There is a lot of private land interspersed throughout, which would make a contiguous park of any large size very challenging if not impossible.

Florida Frank wrote:Fond memories of a couple of backpacking trips through the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. Also an introductory spelunking trip a bit further to the south during college - something like the Sackett cave system. It is unique for the east coast. Though tough economic times to get something like this through congress. There is a lot of private land interspersed throughout, which would make a contiguous park of any large size very challenging if not impossible.

It would be tough. No doubt about it. It's even difficult to get going when private parties buy the land and want to GIVE it as a gift to the American people. Witness the troubles in forming the proposed NORTH WOODS NP in Maine. Gun nuts, snowmobile fans, and just general assholes can be activated at the behest of corporate interests to monkey-wrench even private attempts to form a new park. I'm amazed that Percival Baxter was able to accomplish what he did with Baxter State Park. And even he had to make some compromises with the timber interests and allow "scientific" logging in the northern part of the park.